Aircraft carrier



May 30, 1944. w. H. ATKINSON AIRCRAFT CARRIER Filed Aug. 1, 1942 v IN VE TOR.

Patented May 30, 1944 U N l T ED STAT E S @EATEN OFF 1 CE AIRCRAFT CARRIER. v William H. Atkinson, San Francisco, Calif Application Augustyl, 1942, Serial No; 453,168

(Cl. 114-435 f Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in combat ships of the so-called aeroplane carrier type, and more particularly to an arrange ment embodying a plurality of superimposed decks over which aeroplanes may be moved in a continuousmanner, together with a novel means for transferring aeroplanes from one deck to another, whereby the aeroplanes may make landings, be refueled and reloaded, and take-off in a continuous manner.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel construction for an aeroplane carrier from which a fleet of aeroplanes can operate in a continuous .manner without interference with each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of aeroplane carrier having a flight deck andva servicing deck, together with means that will form additional flight deck space and at the same time provide a practical and efficient manner for transferring the aeroplanes from one deck to the other.

A further object'of the inventionis to provide an arrangement for aeroplane carriers in which there is a flight deck, a refueling and reloading deck, and a repair deck, together with means which will permit continuous refueling and reloading of a fleet of aeroplanes and which will facilitate the withdrawal of an aeroplane from flight forrepair without interfering with the continuous operation of the remaining aero planes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of protection for combat and other ships which may be placed into operation after the ship has reached the combat zone and which may be moved into an inoperative position so as to not interfere with the speed of the ship in its approach to the battle zone.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of submarine torpedo net by means of which an attacking torpedo may be ensnared and directed into an ineffective path of travel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention and in part pointed out hereinafter'in the description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation preferred embodiments of the invention. 7

Figure 2 is a plan view ofthe ship illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing,

will be in part evident to those skilled in the art Figure 3 is an end view in section showing the improved submarine torpedo protective means applied to the side of a ship of the type illustrated in Figure l, and

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary views showing details of the protective means.

Due to the present emergency, there has been a sudden demand for auxiliary aeroplane carriers. To meet this demand the present program contemplates the conversionof conventional freighter-type ships now in construction into aeroplane carriers by omitting the usual super-structure and superimposing a flight deck over the hull from its bowto stern. It is believed that the present invention will find a wide application in this conversion program, particularly since it will provide for a substantial increase in the length of the flight deck without requiring any material m anner.

Having reference to Figures 1 and 20f the drawing, the numeral Ii] designates a ship hull of conventional design. The hull H] has an engine room ll at the'stern thereof, together with a control cabin l2 or super-structure which is positioned upon and extends out from one side of the hull m- Extending over the hull It there is a main deck l4 that preferably will be unobstructed throughout its entire length and will be of rectangular outline. Immediately above the deck l4 and supported by stanchions I 5 there is a flight deck l6 which is likewise of rectangular outline. Supported outwardly at the bow end of the ship by means of struts I! there is a hingeforming support l8 which carries a hingedly amounted inwardly extending flap or flight deck extension portion l9 that is adapted to hinge upon the support 18 so as to bring its inner end ,into register with either the main deck I4 or the flight deck l6. At the stern of the ship and supported upon struts 20 there is a similar hingeforming support 2| upon which there is hingedly mounted a similar flight deck extension portion. 22. These flight deck extending portions I9 and 22 respectively have integrally formed and depending arms 23 and 24 to which operating cables 25 and 26 are connected. These cables 25 and 26 are in turn controlled by power operated windlasses 21 and 28 which will serve to raise and lower the flight deck extending portions I9 and 22 between their respective limits of travel. The struts I! and 20 may be of any suitable form and at their outer ends they are shown braced by tie'members 29 and 30 that are attached to and extend outwardly from each corner of the flight deck [6.

With this arrangement it will be seen that when the flight deck extending portion I9 is in its uppermost position and an aeroplane, designated by the numeral 3|, is placed thereupon, as shown at the right of the drawing, the aeroplane may be lowered and rolled in and upon the main deck I4 where it can be serviced, refueled and reloaded with bombs. Then, after these operations, the aeroplane, designated by the numeral 32, can be positioned upon the flight deck extending portion 22, as shown at the left of the drawing, where it can be raised and placed into a position for immediate take-off from the flight deck I6.

To facilitate the withdrawal and repair of damaged aeroplanes in the event of return to the carrier, the main deck I4 is shown as having a hinged elevator section 33 which may be depressed and permit a removal of a damaged aeroplane from circulation to a lower or repair deck 34 without interfering with the free movement of other and undamaged aeroplanes over the main or servicing deck I4 and back to the flight deck [6.

Since the invention is illustrated as applied to the hull of a ship of the converted freighter type, for simplicity no armaments have been shown. But, it will be understood that, if desired, the hull of the ship may be provided with any number of bastions or blisters for the mounting of large calibre rifles or anti-aircraft guns.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 of the drawing where there is illustrated a further novel feature in the form of means for protecting the the carrier is stationed at some rendezvous and V is more or less stationary and, therefore, vulnerable. provision of an outrigging in the form of struts 35 spaced throughout the length of the ship and over the ends of which suitable cables 36 are adapted to pass from suitable windlasses 31 to yoke-like members 38 that normally support two nets 39 and 40 in spaced parallel relation with each other and'in a submerged position along the sides of the hull Hi. When the ship or carrier is in motion, as in going from one point to another, the nets 39 and 40 may be raised out of the water, as shown by dot and dash lines in the drawing, where they will not form a hindrance to the progress of the ship.

As is more clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing, the cables 36 pass through or over the ends of the struts 35 and are secured to the balanced yokes or spreader arms 38 so that when tension is exerted upon the net 40, the spreader arm 38 will rock inwardly and'upwardly and thus permit the net 39 to move downwardly. A novel feature of the nets 39 and 40 is that the net 39 has a mesh that will permit a relatively free passage of a torpedo 4| therethrough, and the mesh of the net 40 is of such dimension that it will not permit the freepassage of a torpedo therethrough, but will ensnare the forward end of the torpedo and thus, in conjunction with the net 353 operating as above, cause the torpedo 4| to be turned upwardly out of its normal horizontal path, where the propulsion energy of the torpedo will be expended against its weight until this propulsion force has been entirely dissipated. Then, under normal circumstances, it is contemplated that the torpedo 4| will settle back, become dis- This improvement contemplates the engaged from the nets 39 and 40, and sink without doing any damage.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and it is desired to claim it so that all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Havin thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an aircraft carrier of the type from which a plurality of aeroplanes are adapted to operate, the combination of a hull having the conventional propulsion and steering machinery, an unobstructed deck extending substantially over the length and breadth of said hull, a second or flight deck supportedabove said first deck, means extending outwardly from the end of said hull and having a support spaced outwardly in line with the end of said flight deck, and a deck forming portion of sufficient size to accommodate an aeroplane hinged upon said support and adapted to swing upwardly and downwardly about its hinged'connection upon said support to bring its free edge into register with either of said decks and thereby facilitate the transfer of an aeroplane when placed thereupon from one to the otherof said decks.

2. In an aircraft carrier of the type from which a plurality of aeroplanes are adapted to operate, the combination of a floating hull, a substantially unobstructed deck extending over the length and breadth of said hull, a second or flight deck supported above said first deck, means extending outwardly and upwardly from said hull and having a support spaced outwardly and on the level of said flight deck, and a deck forming portion of suiflcient size to accommodate an aeroplane hinged upon said. support adapted to move upwardly and downwardly about its hinged connection upon said support to bring its free edge into register with either of said decks and thereby facilitate the transfer of an aeroplane when placed thereupon from one to the other of said decks. i

3. In an aircraft carrier of the type from which a plurality of aeroplanes can operate, the combination of a hull having the conventional propulsion and steering machinery, an unobstructed servicing deck extending substantially over the may be transferred from the bow of said flight deck to said servicing deck and placed in aposition for take-off at thestern .of said flight deck without being returned over the flight deck.

4. In an aircraft carrier of the type from which a plurality of aeroplanes operate, the combination of a hull having the conventional propulsion and steering machinery, a jservicing deck extending substantially over the length and breadth of said hull, a flight deck supported at its sides above said servicing deck, an "outwardly disposed deck forming portion at thebow and stern of said flight;

deck of sufficient size to accommodate an aero-' forming portions about their hinged connection with said support forming means, whereby they may be moved downwardly and upwardly about; said support formingjmeans to bring their free ends into register with said servicing deck or said flight deck.

5. In an aircraft carrier of the type from which a plurality of aeroplanes operate, the combination v of a hull having the conventional propulsion and steering machinery, a servicing deck extending substantially over the length and breadth of said A hull, a flight deck supported at its sides above said servicing deck, an outwardly disposed deck forming portion at the bow and stem of said flight deck of sufllcient size to accommodate an aeroplane, support forming means at the ends of said hull to which said outwardly disposed deck forming portions are hingedly connected, means for swinging said outwardly disposed deck forming portions about their hinged connection with said support forming means, whereby they may be moved downwardly and upwardly about said support forming means to bring their free ends into register with said servicing deck or said flight deck, a shop or repair deck below said servicing deck, and an elevator meanslncluding a portion of said servicing deck of suflicient size to accommodate an aeroplane, said portion of said servicing deck when lowered permitting transfer of an aeroplane from said servicingjdeck to said repair deck and when elevated completin said servicing deck and permitting movement of undamaged aeroplanes thereover from the bow and back to the stern of said flight decks-after servicing.

WILLIAM H. ATKINSON. 

